Poverty is a pervasive and persistent phenomenon in Ethiopia. The Human
Development Index for 2004, which takes life expectancy, adult literacy,
primary schooling and per capita income as a basis ranked Ethiopia 170 out
of the 177 countries. The factors that lead to this state of condition are
many and addressing the poverty issue requires the consideration of several
strategies in a holistic manner. Raising the level of income to uplift the poor
would mean that a number of interventions have to be considered. The
creation of employment which is obviously at the center of addressing
poverty requires a substantial investment level- both public and private
investments. Fostering self-employment, among others, requires space, raw
material supply, marketing support and access to information, hand tools
and related equipments. Behind all these lies the issue of finance-that
awards the right to acquire materials and equipments, and to finance both
the start up of businesses and sustain production- a demand so vast that
remained unmet to any meaningful degree.